Fleece fiber movement control mechanism



Nov. 6, 1962 .1. H. NYDAM FLEECE FIBER MOVEMENT CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 13, 1960 FIG.

INVENTOR. JOHN H. NYDAM W, )ZQFMAL his ATTORNEYS ire States This invention relates to mechanisms for treating fibers and, more particularly, to combing machines generally termed, in the art, combs. These combs serve to manipulate the fibers of a web or fleece so that, as uniformly as feasible, the fibers all lie in substantially parallel relationship.

In combs now generally used, there are included what are usually termed detaching rolls. The purpose of these rolls is to hold portions of the fleece or web that are being advanced through the machine While other portions thereof are torn away or detached from the held portions of the web.

The present invention has to do particularly with the components of a comb or combing machine including the detaching rolls above-mentioned and, more particularly, an object of this invention is to provide a mechanism by means of which the fibers of a web or fleece that have been detached from a more advanced part of the fleece are maintained in a desired relationship with respect to the detaching rolls so that, in their continued advance, they may be received into the detaching rolls without disturbing the fiber alignment which is desired to be maintained in the fleece.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for urging the fibers against the face of the sword, the latter being one of the components of a comb that serve to guide the fibers of the fleece to the detaching rolls.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above character which not only maintains the fibers against the face of the sword, as abovementioned, but also maintains the upper roll of the set of detaching rolls clean of fibersv The above and other objects are accomplished by providing a stationary clearer mechanism with air ducts and apertures and with a source of air under pressure by means of which streams of air may be directed toward the fleece so that the fibers thereof are urged against the face of the sword and thus away from the top roll of the detaching rolls.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away and in section, showing a device constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view in transverse section, taken on a plane indicated by the line 22 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the above drawings, the frame of a comb is illustrated at as provided with an upper detaching roll 11 and spaced lower rolls 12 and 13 beneath the upper roll 11. The sword of a conventional combing machine or comb is illustrated at 14 and a web or fleece of fibers at 15. The movement of the fleece is from right to left as viewed in FIG. 2, and the mechanism by means of which such movement is accomplished, forming no part of the present invention, is not illustrated.

As will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a clearer 16 is provided above the upper roll 11 and carries a wiper 17 that clears fibers from the face of the upper roll 11. The clearer is provided with an axial bore or duct 18 and a multiplicity of apertures 19. Instead of providing a multiplicity of apertures, of course, a single elongated slot could be provided.

The clearer 16 is mounted upon a bracket 2% formed with a duct 21 that communicates with the duct 18 and is mounted upon a hinge mechanism 22 so that it may be moved away from the top roll 11 and into the position illustrated in dot and dash lines in FIG. 2. A supply pipe 23 is connected to the hinge mechanism 22 so that, when the clearer 16 is in the operating position illustrated in FIG. 2, the supply pipe communicates with the duct 18 in order to supply .air under suitable pressure thereto.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, during operation of the ma chine the air being supplied to the clearer by the pipe 23 provides a plurality of jets 24 that prevent the fibers from leaving the face of the sword 14. This is particularly important, for example, in worsted combs where charges of static electricity frequently cause the fibers to be attracted to the upper roll 11. By means of these air jets, therefore, the fibers of the fleece are maintained in a desired relationship of alignment and the course of movement of these fibers and of the fleece is undisturbed from the normal path incident to the detaching and guide mechanism illustrated.

While the invention has been described with reference to the specific structure shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save as described in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a fiber controlling mechanism having upper and lower detaching rolls for controlling the movement of a fleece of fibers through a fiber-treating device and a sword for guiding fibers to said detaching rolls, said upper roll tending to acquire a fiber-attracting electrostatic charge during operation of said mechanism, means for maintaining said upper roll free of fibers attracted thereto by virtue of said electrostatic charge, said means comprising, an elongated hollow chamber mounted adjacent said upper roll and substantially parallel thereto, wiper means mounted on said chamber and in contact with said upper roll over substantially its entire length to remove therefrom stray fibers from said fleece that are attracted to said upper roll, a source of air under pressure connected to the interior of said chamber, and an aperture in said chamber disposed to direct a stream of air toward said sword to maintain said fleece adjacent said sword against the electrostatic attractive force of said upper roll.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,389 Evans et .al. Dec. 20, 1910 2,353,812 Crockett July 18, 1944 2,673,375 Snyder Mar. 30, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,791 Great Britain of 1896 

